Troubled Peters Pond park to be sold

A Michigan-based resort company has agreed to purchase Peters Pond RV Resort, along with 10 other properties across the country, for a total of $135 million, according to a Dec. 13 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SANDWICH — A Michigan-based resort company has agreed to purchase Peters Pond RV Resort, along with 10 other properties across the country, for a total of $135 million, according to a Dec. 13 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sun Communities Inc. is buying the park and other properties from Robert Moser, principal of Morgan RV Resorts, according to the filing. The deal has not been announced aside from the mandatory announcement to stockholders in federal filings because it has not yet closed.

Peters Pond is on 73.4 acres and is valued by assessors at $8.1 million, according to town records.

Moser and Morgan RV have been under scrutiny by Attorney General Martha Coakley's office since 2011 for alleged strong-arm tactics in forcing some residents to sign up for an annual membership. Coakley sued Morgan RV in August because the company has failed to reimburse $446,785 to nearly 80 residents.

The case was scheduled to go to trial last month, but Morgan filed an appeal of the original judgment, saying the Superior Court judge should have recused herself, according to Massachusetts Appeals Court website.

It's unclear what impact, if any, the sale to Sun Communities would have on that case.

Jillian Fennimore, a spokeswoman for Coakley's office, said in an email Thursday she could offer no further update.

Sun Communities generated nearly $290 million in revenue, according to its 2011 annual report, also filed with the SEC.

The company operates a combination of more than 150 manufactured housing communities and RV parks in 18 states, according to its corporate website.

The park in Sandwich is the company's first in Massachusetts, with Florida being the company's top spot for properties, according to the annual report.

"Hopefully, it will be a good impact," Scott Dionne, a resident of Peters Pond, said of the sale.

"We know people that in other areas of the country where Sun Communities has come in and taken over parks and they love them. They come in and put money in the parks, which is something that's been lacking at Peters Pond. I'm cautiously optimistic."

Another resident, Joseph Chepetsky, said he's also looking forward to new ownership.

"It's hard to tell. We're glad that Moser is out of there, I can tell you that," he said. "He's the one who imposed fees and got salespeople in there to harass people."

Jonathan Colman, executive vice president for Sun Communities, said he could not comment on the company's specific plans for Peters Pond because the deal has not been finalized.

"Our philosophy, what we do when we acquire properties, is we work closely with residents about what improvements they feel are needed," Colman said. "We work on any deferred maintenance to bring the property up to the highest standards. Should we go ahead and complete this acquisition, we would carry that philosophy forward at Peters Pond."

Moser did not respond to messages left on his cellphone Thursday.

Carmel Gilberti, an attorney for Morgan RV, did not respond to a message left at his Dennis office.